3
Ronan
Two days later, Ronan sat at the kitchen table ready to do his part in the color run assembly line. Earlier that morning, he’d added the two leaves to the kitchen table, extending it nearly into the living room, and taped down newspaper to protect the surface. Next, he’d spread out bowls of cornstarch and brightly colored icing dye, while Ten measured and cut parchment paper for the mixture to dry on. They’d also grabbed popsicle sticks to stir the mixture and large zippy bags to put the dried mixture to crush into the colored powder that would be thrown at runners.
“I think that’s everything,” Ten said, taking a seat at the table. “We’re going to have so much fun throwing color.”
“You mean instead of running through it?” Ronan asked.
“Hey, you were the one who volunteered to run. I could have done it, but you wanted to go head to head with Jude and Fitz.”
“Don’t say it like that. We all spent the morning trying to make the kids understand that the fun run isn’t a race and that it doesn’t matter who wins or loses.” What Ronanwasn’tgoing to say out loud was that every word he’d just uttered was pure, unadulterated bullshit.
“Bullshit!” Ten half-shouted. “You are the most competitive man I’ve ever known, with Jude and Fitz coming in a close second and third. You want to win more than anything.”
“That’s not true.” It wastotallytrue. He pulled Tennyson into his arms and kissed him, hoping his magical lips would distract his husband from their conversation.
“Stop kissing! Everyone’s here!” Everly shouted from the living room.
Jude and Fitz’s families were coming over to help make the color powder for the fun run. When Everly opened the door, chaos ensued with hugs and shoulder slaps, as if they hadn’t all seen each other two hours before.
“Come into the kitchen,” Ronan called. “We’ve got everything set up. The kids are going to mix the colors. Jude and Cope are going to spread the paste on the parchment paper to dry. Fitz and Jace are gonna break up the dried color paste into powder. Questions? Concerns? Round of applause?”
“Let’s get to it!” Everly grabbed a bowl of cornstarch and the pink food dye.
Ronan, who had been briefly disappointed no one clapped for him, watched as each of the kids expertly stirred the mixture to even out the color. “How did you guys learn to do this?”
“YouTube, Uncle Ronan,” Aurora said, as she tugged on her latex gloves, something Ronan thought all the kids should be wearing, the adults too. By the end of the afternoon, they were all gonna look like rainbows threw up on them.
“It never crossed my mind to look at videos.” The kids had a real handle on technology, Ronan was lucky if he could set the time on the microwave after a power outage.
“That’s because you’reold,” Aurora said with authority only a six year old could possess.
Wolf and Everly burst out laughing.
“Well, I guess that means we’re gonna have broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts for dinner. I’m too old to call out for pizza.” Ronan limped around the kitchen.
The table erupted into laughter. “It’s okay, Uncle Ronan, my Daddy isn’t as old as you. He can call for pizza, right Super Dad?”
“You got it, Wonder Wolf.” Jude mussed his son’s hair.
“I’m done!” Everly held up her bowl with bright pink cornstarch paste.
Jude took her bowl and handed Everly another one. This time around she chose yellow food dye.
“Is everyone all set with their costumes?” Ten asked. “I’ve got Jude and Wolf’s capes with their letters sewed on.”
“We’re gonna look so cool, Dad!” Wolf held up a bright green hand to high five with Jude. Both father and son looked like Bruce Banner ready to go full Hulk.
“Did you get our shirts from the school this morning, Uncle Ten?” Aurora asked.
“I did!” Ten agreed. “While all of you fabulous athletes were running, Cope and I picked up the shirts.”
“I can’t believe they’re bright white!” Fitz shook his head. “What idiot thought white shirts were a good idea for a color run?”
“That’s the point, for the white shirt to be covered by color,” Everly said. “I want my shirt to have every color in the rainbow.”
“Me too!” Wolf added, dripping orange food dye onto his left hand.
